Graduation

If you are a graduate candidate or applicant as confirmed by Registrar BEFORE April 18: 

You can complete your RSVP Form at https://hccc.tassel.com/.

Once you complete your RSVP Form, access your Stage Pass. We will scan your Stage Pass as you enter the stadium and again when you are about to cross the stage. Please have it accessible for the entire ceremony.

If you were confirmed as a graduate applicant AFTER April 18: 

It’s not too late to participate! If you plan to attend the Commencement Ceremony on May 19, please email graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Your name will be announced live by a member of the college leadership team, instead of being pre-recorded. Your name will not be listed in the program.

Instead of a Stage Pass provided by the Tassel site, we will write a card out for you. We can’t wait to celebrate your graduation!

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All graduating students will receive a free graduation cap and gown set. A cap and gown set will include a black graduation gown, a black graduation cap, a teal and white tassel, and a teal stole with the college logo. 

Cords will also be distributed based on your Academic School and if you have earned Latin Honor recognition (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude).
For all Spring and Summer graduates, you will be assigned the Latin Honors that aligns with your GPA entering the Spring 2026 semester.

Your options for cap and gown pick up:

• Between April 27 to May 12, you can pick up your cap, gown, stole, and tassel at the NHC Bookstore, which is open from Monday to Thursday, 9am-4pm. Note: The Bookstore will not have your Academic School/Latin Honor cords.  
• On May 13 at NHC and May 14 at JSQ between 12pm and 2pm during the Grad BBQs, we will distribute cap, gown, stole, tassels, and Academic School/Latin Honor cords. RSVP for this event and other Graduation Events at https://involved.hccc.edu/events?categories=22126. 
• We will have a limited number of cap and gown sets at the Commencement Ceremony, along with Academic School, Latin Honor, Honor Society, and special cohort cords.

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Graduates must arrive by 8:00 a.m. Guests may start taking their seats at 8:00 a.m. and must be seated by 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.

Graduates are allowed to invite an unlimited number of guests!

We want this special day to be celebrated by all who love and support our graduates. There are no tickets required. Guests will be seated in a General Admission style, seats being filled in a first-come, first-served fashion. 

The event will be live-streamed on the college’s YouTube channel and on the college’s website for guests unable to attend in person.

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• Graduates must arrive by 8:00 a.m. 
• Guests may start taking their seats at 8:00 a.m. and must be seated by 9:00 a.m.
• The ceremony will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.
• Graduates will enter Intermex/Gate B Entrance. Graduates will need to have their Tassel Stage Pass to enter.
• Guests will enter at Gate C.
• Guests with disabilities will enter through the Toyota Gate. 

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The ceremony will recognize graduates that completed or will complete their degree requirements during the following semesters: Summer II 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer I 2026, and Summer II 2026.

Participation in the ceremony is not required.

Summer graduates can participate even though they have not yet completed their final classes. They will need to complete their degree requirement classes before receiving their diploma.

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Graduates are allowed to invite an unlimited number of guests! We want this special day to be celebrated by all who love and support our graduates. There are no tickets required. 

Guests will be seated in a General Admission style, seats being filled in a first-come, first-served fashion. Accessible Seating is available for guests in various sections. 

If you or your guests require any accommodations, please complete this form by May 12: https://forms.gle/imzsUpux2FY7AWPs9 

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The ceremony will be live-streamed on the college’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@HudsonCountyCollege) for guests unable to attend in person. 

 A direct link will be shared as we get closer to the ceremony date. 

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It is anticipated that this ceremony will run about three hours. The length of time depends on the number of graduates that will recognizing crossing the stage. 

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Each graduate confirmed as a Graduate Applicant prior to April 18 will be issued a Stage Pass through Tassel.

The Stage Pass is a unique QR code for each Graduate which will be used to check grads into the ceremony and will be scan and used to announce graduate’s names when they cross the stage. 

Please make sure you have your Stage Pass ready when you arrive to the Sports Illustrated Stadium. You can add the Stage Pass to your phone’s wallet, or screenshot it for easier access. 

You can access your Stage Pass by logging into your Tassel account and completing the Ceremony Registration Form at https://hccc.tassel.com. 

Tassel is the website platform we are using to collect your ceremony RSVP and your correct name pronunciation as part of the ceremony registration process. All names will be recorded by a professional, which will begin on April 27. Any graduates added to the ceremony after April 27 will have their name read out loud by the Vice President of Academic Affairs at the ceremony. 

Click here to login or create an account using your HCCC email address.

Graduates added after April 18 will receive a hand written Stage Pass at the Commencement Ceremony, and their name will be read out loud live by a member of the college leadership, instead of being pre-recorded.

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The graduating class participating in this ceremony will be expected to participate in a procession and a recession.

The procession is the traditional ceremony march at the beginning of the ceremony, where graduates are left by faculty and college dignitaries. The procession will begin at the mid-field point and involves walking to the seats at the end of the field. 

The recession occurs at the end of the ceremony, where faculty and college dignitaries lead the graduates out of their seats and off the field, marking the end of the ceremony.  

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When graduates arrive to the Sports Illustrated Stadium, they will be checked in at Gate B by showing their Stage Pass. Please access your Stage Pass and have it ready by logging into your Tassel account at https://hccc.tassel.com. 

As graduates check in at Sports Illustrated Stadium, you will be lined up with other students in your Academic School. The four Academic Schools are School of Business, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality Management, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Professions, and School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

You do not need to line up in a particular order within your Academic School, such as alphabetical order. As you line up, stand in front of or behind the people you want to sit next to. 

There will be some special cohorts, including our Student Leaders and Early College, that will line up at the front of the graduate procession. 

There will not be any practice or rehearsal for the ceremony. There will be staff at the ceremony to lead you in the right direction.

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In order to receive your diploma and graduate from HCCC, you must pass all degree course requirements. Participating in the graduation ceremony does not automatically mean that you have completed your degree/graduated from the college. 

At the ceremony, you will receive a diploma cover. You will be notified by Registrar when your diploma is ready to be picked up.

The Registrar’s Office manually reviews each graduate's degree requirements as final grades are being entered. Once this semester’s students are reviewed and approved, graduates will receive an email from Registrar to let you know that your diploma is ready to be picked up from the Journal Square Campus.
If you graduated in a previous semester and you already have your diploma, you do not need to bring it. 

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All graduating students will receive a free graduation cap and gown set. A cap and gown set will include a black graduation gown, a black graduation cap, a teal and white tassel, and a teal stole with the college logo. 

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Your Commencement Ceremony is a very special day where you will be taking many photos and be on camera during the live stream, therefore we want you to be dressed to impress.  

All graduates will have a cap and gown set that will be worn on the day of the ceremony. You have the ability to wear honor cords and stoles on top of your gown, both provided by the college and those that you may have created and customized.  

While we encourage you to decorate your cap, you should not customize or alter the gown in any way. 

There is no official Commencement dress code, but we encourage you to dress business casual underneath your gown and to be comfortable.

The event will be a combination of standing and sitting, so make sure you’re dressed comfortably enough for both. 

Please dress accordingly to the weather, and consider how anything you wear under your gown could impact the way it looks when you zip it up. For example, a puffy skirt may not be the best option.

When entering the stadium as the start of the ceremony, graduates will enter mid-field and walk to their seats at the end of the stadium. When your name is called, you will need to walk down stairs to cross the stage, and then up the stairs to your seat. Therefore, we highly recommend that you wear comfortable footwear and avoid shoes with high heels, low traction, or shoes that are uncomfortable for you to wear. Commencement Day is not the day to wear new shoes you have never walked in before.

Note: If you are unable to walk long distances or use stairs, please visit https://forms.gle/5ecnxa4pc7e6zTWE7 or email dlopezFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE for support. 

We recommend that graduates do not bring any personal items with them to their seats, except for their cell phone and small purse/wallet. Graduates are not permitted to chew gum during the ceremony.

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HCCC’s various honor societies and leadership opportunities provide items that can be worn at Commencement. These items will be distributed up until the ceremony in various methods. Please communicate with the advisor, faculty, or staff member who oversees the program. 

Cords will also be distributed based on your Academic School and if you have earned Latin Honor recognition (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude). For all Spring and Summer graduates, you will be assigned the Latin Honors that aligns with your GPA entering the Spring 2026 semester.

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Driving/Drop Off

The Sports Illustrated Stadium is located at 600 Cape May St, Harrison, NJ 07029. Rideshare options can drop-off near the intersection of Pete Higgins Blvd and Riverbend Dr. 

ADA Drop Off and Entrance is near the intersection of Pete Higgins Blvd and Crucible Dr. at the Toyota Gate entrance.

• PATH - Sports Illustrated Stadium is about three blocks from the Harrison PATH train station, one stop away from Journal Square. 
• Parking - Free parking will be available in a parking lot adjacent to the Sports Illustrated Stadium located on Guyon Drive and S 5th Street, as well as across Frank E. Rodgers Blvd S. Spots are available on a first come, first served basis. See map for more information. 

There is metered parking located on nearby streets. The Harrison PATH station is also within walking distance to the stadium and has a commuter parking lot with paid parking options. The paid parking options require you to pay a fee to park. 

Sports Illustrated Stadium has designated parking for guests with disabilities on a first-come, first-served basis. A current state-issued disability placard or license plate is required to utilize these spaces.

There is also a drop-off area at the Stadium for guests with disabilities at the Toyota Gate. For additional needs and questions, please complete this form https://forms.gle/5ecnxa4pc7e6zTWE7 or email dlopezFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE. 

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The Office of Accessibility Services at Hudson County Community College is excited about this year’s Commencement Ceremony and is committed to ensuring that graduating students and guests with disabilities can fully participate and enjoy the day’s celebrations.

Sports Illustrated Stadium is equipped with accessible parking, seating, closed captioning, and other supports. For more information click here.

Accessible seating is available in various sections at Sports Illustrated Stadium, offering wheelchair and companion seating on all levels. There will be ushers and staff on hand to assist guests to these seats. There will be a sign language interpreter at the ceremony in addition to closed captioning. 

Tickets for accessible seating are required for this event. Please complete this form as soon as possible to provide detailed information on your or your guest(s) accommodation need related to a disability or medical condition. Our office staff and Accessibility Volunteer Team will need sufficient time to coordinate accommodation requests. 

To request accommodations, click here.

Please submit your request by Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Although we will do our best, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to coordinate requests submitted after this date.

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HCCC will have our college photographers at the ceremony, taking photos that will become available at our Flickr page.

Island Photography will also be at the ceremony to capture each graduate's "moment" as they enter and exit the stage.  

Within 48-72 hours after the ceremony, you will be emailed a unique link to view or order your images from your graduation celebration. There is absolutely no obligation to purchase.

For further information, please get in touch with us at curtserv@islandphoto.com or 800-869-0908.

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IMPORTANT!!!
Please note you must DOWNLOAD the Diploma Information Form and use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill out the form. Please save the graduation application to your computer and email it to registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE as an attachment. 

This document collects the name that you wish to be displayed on your diploma and confirms your degree program. Please indicate in the box of the graduation application how you would like your name to appear on the diploma. This is the same way it will appear in the Commencement program.

If you are unsure if you have submitted your Diploma Information Form, or for any questions related to this Diploma Information Form, please email Assistant Registrar Upasana Sethi-Pagan at usethi-paganFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

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Click here for the Spring 2026, Summer 1 2026, and Summer 2 2026 Graduate Applicant List. Please note that this list is only accessible to individuals with HCCC login credentials. For any questions regarding the list, please email registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Please note, in order to complete your degree and graduate from HCCC, you must pass all degree course requirements. Being a Graduate Applicant and participating in a graduation ceremony DOES NOT automatically mean that you have completed your degree and graduated from the college.

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Click here for the Fall 2025 Graduate Candidate List. This list of students have completed their degree requirements as per the Registrar's Office. Please note that this list is only accessible to individuals with HCCC login credentials. For any questions regarding the list, please email registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

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For information on graduation deadlines and requirements, as well as information on receiving Diploma Replacements, visit https://www.hccc.edu/administration/registrar/graduation-requirements.html.

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Graduates of Summer I 2023 and prior year degrees:

Your diplomas are available for pick up at the Journal Square Campus A Building, 70 Sip Avenue, Jersey City. Please bring your State ID. Note that you must return any borrowed technology (such as a Chromebook or Hot Spot) before you can receive your diploma. You can pick it up or request to have it mailed. Diplomas that are mailed may take a minimum of 2-3 weeks to arrive.

For any other questions or concerns about your diploma, email registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

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Learn about HCCC’s Alumni Services at https://www.hccc.edu/community/alumni-services/index.html

Join the Alumni Association!

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Students are allowed and encouraged to wear as many cords and stoles with their cap and gown as they have earned. Different cords and stoles distributed by the college are:

Academic Schools

• Yellow Double Cord - School of Business, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality Management
• Red Double Cord – School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Green Double Cord – School of Nursing and Health Professions
• Double Blue Cord – School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Latin Honors (Graduating with Honors)

• Double Gold Cord - Summa Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.85 to 4.0)
• Double Silver Cord - Magna Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.65 to 3.84)
• Double Bronze Cord - Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.45 to 3.64)

Other cords and stoles distributed include:

• Alpha Alpha Alpha - Students inducted into HCCC's Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha will receive a dark blue and silver cord.
• Alpha Sigma Lambda - Students inducted into HCCC's Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda will receive a white stole with the ASL logo embroidered on it.
• ESL - Students who started at HCCC as English as a Second Language learners and completed the path to graduation receive a dark purple cord.
• Hudson Scholars – Students who are a Hudson Scholar will receive a teal and purple braided cord.
• Kente Graduation – Students recognized as part of the Kente Graduation receive a Kente cloth stole handcrafted from Ghana.
• Lavender Graduation – Students recognized as part of the Lavender Graduation ceremony receive a stole with the Pride Flag.
• National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) – Inductees of NSLS receive a black and silver cord.
• Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) – Inductees of PTK receive a gold stole with the PTK logo and a gold tassel.
• Sigma Kappa Delta (SKD) – Inductees of SKD receive a green and yellow cord.

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The Office of Student Life and Leadership aims to schedule opportunities for Graduate Portraits during the Fall semester and the Spring semester. Students who take their portraits will receive their proofs with the option to purchase photo packages. Information regarding dates will be sent to you from graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

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Herff Jones is offering HCCC coupon codes for class rings! To order your college ring please log on to: https://collegerings.herffjones.com/

PROMO CODES:

• $100 OFF Austria and Extreme Silver: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$100
• $125 OFF White Ultrium Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$125
• $300 OFF 10K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$300
• $400 OFF 14K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$400
• $500 OFF 18K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$500

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Hudson County Community College’s Office of Communications needs your help in identifying unique and exceptional graduate student stories to use in publicity for the upcoming Commencement ceremony as well as future marketing materials.

HCCC’s Office of Communications will be pitching these stories to media during the Commencement season and would be pleased to hear from students willing to be interviewed. Some past noteworthy stories covered by media included students who:

• Were age 50 or older while studying at HCCC
  
• Had served in the military
  
• Had relatives on HCCC staff or of HCCC alumni
  
• Were family members graduating together
  
• “Beat the odds” (earned a degree despite an obstacle, disability, etc.)

For more information please contact the Office of Communications at (201) 360-4060 or email at communicationsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE or visit the Tell Us Your Story page.

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• December 2024
  • Photos from December 12 Reception
  • Photos from December 13 Reception
• May 2024
  • HCCC's 2024 Commencement Live Stream
  • Photos from Commencement Ceremony
• December 2023
  • Photos from December 4 Reception
  • Photos from December 5 Reception
• May 2023
  • HCCC's 2023 Commencement Live Stream
  • Photos from Commencement Ceremony
• December 2022
  • Photos from December 12 Reception
  • Photos from December 13 Reception
• May 2022
  • HCCC's 2022 Commencement Live Stream
  • 2022 Commencement Ceremony Program
  • Photos from Commencement Ceremony
• December 2021
  • To watch the December Graduate Receptions, visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/HudsonCountyCollege
  • To view photos from the December Graduate Receptions, visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hudsonccc/albums/
  • Watch the May 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony
  • Access the May 2021 Commencement Program, Here
  • For the May 2021 Grad Walk photos, Click Here
  • To watch the May 2021 Grad Walks livestreams visit https://www.facebook.com/hcccedu/videos/
• December 2020
  • Watch the December 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony

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Contact Registrar at registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE for questions about your graduation application, course completion towards earning your degree, diplomas, and related topics.

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Contact Student Life and Leadership at graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE for questions related to the Commencement ceremony, graduate portraits, graduation celebration events and related topics.

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